Join us for the first weekend adventure of 2016 in Death Valley National Park on January 29-31 with special guests Megan and Michael of Fresh Off the Grid!

Located in California’s Mojave Desert, Death Valley is a land of extremes. Badwater Basin has the lowest elevation in North America, just 85 miles from Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Furnace Creek holds the record for the highest air temperature in the world at 134 degrees. Winter offers more pleasant conditions for visiting the park.

Death Valley is unparalleled in the diversity of landscape and beauty. Discover another world, featuring sand dunes, sherbert-painted hills, salt flats, craters, ghost towns and a waterfall oasis.

The weekend also includes cooking instruction from Megan and Michael, creators of the camp cooking blog Fresh Off the Grid. These two are currently on a yearlong road trip across North America and will be joining us to share their insight on preparing food without a kitchen. They’ll be sharing a few of their favorite easy-to-make and easy-to-clean recipes and helping us brush up our camp cooking skills.

For dinner on Saturday, they’ll be hosting a hands-on interactive workshop, walking us through a meal preparation step-by-step, after which we’ll all sit down for a dinner party under the stars. Get “dressed up” and put on your fanciest insulated jacket. This will be a night to remember!

Trip Type: Car Camping

Trip Level: Beginner

Trip Highlights

Get hands-on camp cooking instruction from Fresh Off the Grid, including breakfast on Saturday morning and a Dinner Party on Saturday night.

Professional photographers will capture the best moments to share with you after the trip!

Ticket Includes

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Campfire, s’mores and warm beverages

Campsite fees/permit

Wilderness First Responder/CPR Certified Leader with 4 years of guide experience

Guide assistant to help facilitate group hikes and meals

Leave No Trace Instruction

A portion of your fee goes back to the park service to maintain and protect Death Valley for future generations.

Extras

If you’re traveling or don’t have camping gear, we’ve got you covered! Our partner GetOutfitted is offering Shoestring Warriors an exclusive 20% discount for convenient gear rentals. More details will be provided after registration.

Itinerary

Friday: Meet at Furnace Creek Campground in Death Valley, CA in the afternoon. Watch the sunset from the top of a sand dune. Warm up with a beverage, enjoy dinner with new friends and relax around the campfire.

Saturday: Coffee and breakfast cooking demonstration by Fresh Off the Grid. Slide down a crater and explore more highlights of Death Valley. Return to camp for a Dinner Party with Fresh Off the Grid.

Sunday: Coffee and breakfast. Explore historical ruins, a waterfall oasis and a ghost town. Lunch on the road before return to Los Angeles.

* Schedule subject to change due to weather, camper ability/injury, natural events or park restrictions. Shoestring Warriors should be in good physical shape, but we will hike at an easy pace and take breaks as needed.

What to Expect

Accommodations

We have reserved a spacious group tent site at Furnace Creek Campground, located centrally in Death Valley National Park. Amenities include car camping, flush toilets and drinking water.

What to Bring

Campers should bring their own tent, sleeping bag and equipment. See above for details on convenient gear rentals available from GetOutfitted. If you need a tent, we have loaners to share for no additional charge.

All cooking tools and meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch are provided. Fresh coffee will be served each morning. We practice Leave No Trace to enjoy the environment responsibly, so please bring your own mess kit (plate, bowl, cup, silverware) and reusable water bottle. Check out our Car Camping Gear Checklist and Gear Guide for other recommendations. You will receive a customized packing list before our trip.

How to Prepare

Don’t know anyone going on the trip? No problem! We offer a community for anyone who wants to experience the outdoors. After you register, you will receive a Welcome Kit through email, which includes introductions to your fellow campers, a detailed packing list, itinerary, weather forecast and everything else you need to know to prepare for our trip. We are available to answers all questions and guide first-time campers every step of the way.

Weather

Winter in Death Valley is mild with occasional winter storms. Winter requires warmer clothing and light to medium jackets. Sunny skies are typical in Death Valley. The average temperature in January is 64 degrees.

Transportation

Park Entrance Fee is $20 per vehicle (not included in ticket price). Allow 4.5 hours drive time from Los Angeles. We will help facilitate carpools with other campers in your neighborhood. Each passenger will contribute toward their driver for gas and wear and tear.

Health & Safety

We take extra measures to ensure your safety and maximum level of fun. All Shoestring Adventures guides hold Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certifications. In remote destinations, we carry a inReach GPS device to contact authorities in case of emergency. On the trail, we encourage campers to stay together, wear sun protection and stay hydrated. We minimize risk on the trail by keeping groups together while hiking, encouraging everyone to drink water and apply sunscreen, and making sure we’re prepared with gear appropriate to our activities.

Become an Official Member

Once you register for your first event, you will become an official club member and receive 10% off future events.

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About

Shoestring Adventures offers guided weekend camping & backpacking adventures and a supportive community for anyone who wants to experience the outdoors.

Founder Alyx Schwarz started Shoestring Adventures in 2011 following back surgery, the end of a year long struggle with chronic pain. A former triathlete and marathon runner, she rediscovered her love of the outdoors through hiking. Since then, she has devoted the weekends to exploring her home state of California and invites you to come along!